More than three million people in South and North America are at risk of getting Zika virus which is being suspected to be spread by the common mosquitos. According to Dr. Marcos Espinal an infectious disease expert at the WHO's Americas regional office "Between three and four million
cases of Zika virus are expected , however he has not give a time frame.
According to the WHO Director-General
Dr. Margaret Chan the Zika virus is "spreading explosively",
with fears that it may be carried by the common mosquito. Speaking at a meeting
of World Health Organization members states, Dr. Margaret said the level
of alarm over the virus had become "extremely high".
The mosquito-borne virus has
been linked to a steep increase in the number of babies born with severe birth
defects, including abnormally small heads, across South and Central America and
the Caribbean, with Brazil being the most affected so far up to 1.5 million
cases have been reported."A causal relationship
between Zika virus infection and birth malformations and neurological syndromes
has not yet been established, but is strongly suspected," the WHO chief
said.
"The possible links, only
recently suspected, have rapidly changed the risk profile of Zika, from a mild
threat to one of alarming proportions," she added.
She has called an emergency
meeting to discuss whether the outbreak qualifies as an international public
health emergency on 1 February. Cases have so far been reported
in 23 countries and territories, with Brazil among the worst affected.
In the U.S. there are confirmed cases of the virus among individuals who have traveled to infected countries, including in Illinois, Florida and Texas, among others. However, there are no known cases of locally transmitted illness. "These imported cases might result in local human-to-mosquito-to-human spread of the virus in limited areas of the continental Unites States that have the appropriate mosquito vectors," according to a new report on the spread of the virus issued by the CDC . YOU CAN ALSO READ HOW TO PREVENT ZIKA VIRUS
How to keep mosquitoes carrying Zika virus at bay :There is no prevention or treatment, that is why the best course of action is to prevent mosquito bites by using mosquito repellant and covering exposed skin. The aedis aegyptia mosquito, which transmits the disease, bites all day long, so individuals need to reapply that repellant and not let their guard down. Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which are found throughout the U.S. and are known for transmitting dengue fever and chikungunya, may also transmit the virus, the CDC said.